Not,,*Jane*?
Years ago when I worked as a volunteer chairman of Welcare in S London (working for single mums and their children) the one thing which put me in the Christmas spirit was not Jingle Bells belting out in the shopping centres, or writing Christmas cards or even choosing presents for my own kids, it was organising money donations from churches and groups in the Diocese which we turned into practical things and went out with the other volunteers to deliver a box of groceries and basic toiletries,(plus one tiny "luxury") enough to see them over the holiday period plus a gift for the mum and a gift fir the baby/toddler . We would go up high rise blocks with urine stinking stairwells. I always insisted the volunteers went in pairs as the areas were none too savoury! And then I thought that these girls, often teenagers had to do that on their own with a baby in tow. Many of them were in tears that somebody had thought of their baby, no benefit cheats there, just teenage mums with secondhand furniture, a bleak cold high rise flat and often a judgemental family who had disowned them.
I'm not pretending it was a huge deal, but it made me feel,the spirit of Christmas a lot more than all the Ho Ho Hos..
but how about something we have tried in a group I belong to. We each put a nominal sum of money similar to what you would spend on a Secret Santa type gift into a "pot" (say £5) but ALSO a sealed envelope with the name of a charity in it. Then, rather like a raffle ONE envelope is drawn out and the whole pot given to that charity. 
By special request, let’s discuss our favourite Classic Music and why?
Good Morning Friday 15th May 2026
